DAYTON – A new era in University of Dayton football continues to unfold Thursday when new coach Trevor Andrews and his staff will welcome 110 players back to campus for preseason camp on Thursday, August 3 as the Flyers prepare for the 2023 football season. 

First practice will be on Friday afternoon at 12:45 p.m. ET on the Jerry Von Mohr Practice Field at the Arena Sports Complex.  The team's first practice in full pads will be on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 a.m. on Von Mohr.  

The team will have two preseason intrasquad scrimmages.  The first will be a "Monday Night Football" scrimmage on Monday, Aug. 14 starting at 5 p.m., and the second will be Saturday, Aug. 19 at 8 a.m.  Media Day will be Sunday, Aug. 20 at 12 Noon.  All three are scheduled on the Von Mohr Practice Field.  

Andrews brings 25 years of college coaching experience to his alma mater.  He was a three-year letterwinner at defensive back for the Flyers and a member of three Pioneer Football League championship teams.   He returns to Dayton from Western Michigan, where he coached the Bronco linebackers for four seasons.  Prior to that, he was at William & Mary for 18 years, including six as Associate Head Coach, five as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for nine years.  

The Flyers will be led by four captains – linebacker Nathan Arthur, safety Matt Lenti, offensive tackle David Tkatch and wide receiver Derek Willits.

UD returns 13 starters (six offense, seven defense) from the 2022 season.  On special teams, the primary kickoff and punt returners are back, along with both long snappers and placekicker Sam Webster.

Dayton was picked to finish third in the Pioneer Football League for the 2023 season in a preseason vote of the league's coaches.  The Flyers have 12 league championships to its credit in the PFL's 30 seasons.   .  UD was 8-3 overall in 2022, including 6-2 in the PFL, which tied for second place in the league.

Arthur, Tkatch and defensive tackle Sam Schadek and safety Cole Hildebrand were all named Preseason First Team All-Pioneer Football League- by the PFL.

In addition, Phil Steele's College Football also named Webster, kick returner Luke Brenner, wide receiver Sam Bubonics and running back Michael Neel to its preseason All-PFL teams.

The Flyers open the 2023 season at Illinois State on Saturday, Sept. 2.  The home opener will be the following Saturday at 1 p.m. ET against Central State. 

Success In The Classroom…In the last 23 years, the University of Dayton football program has produced 36 Academic All-Americans, the most of any college football team.  In the history of the Academic All-America program, UD football has had 66 Academic All-Americans.   Among schools playing Division I football, only Nebraska (107) has had more Academic All-Americans than Dayton and Penn State's 66.  Notre Dame (61), Ohio State (57) and Oklahoma (55) are next. UD is also one of two D-I schools (and the only one in the PFL) to have a Campbell Trophy semifinalist for 17 straight seasons.  The Campbell Trophy is the National Football Foundation's award sometimes referred to as "the Academic Heisman."

PFL Power...The Pioneer Football League is in its 31st season.  The original (and now the only) Division I strictly need-based football league began with charter members Butler, Dayton, Drake, Evansville, San Diego and Valparaiso.  UD's 130-45 record is the best in PFL history.

Tickets Now On Sale...Season tickets are only $35 for the six-game regular season. Single game tickets are $10.00 for adults, and $5 for children high school age and younger.  Groups of 20 or more are $5 each.  UD students are admitted free with an ID.  Tickets can be purchased at daytonflyers.com/tickets or please call 937-229-4433 for more information.